Monday, January 8, 2018

Kumba is a steel B&M (Bolliger & Mabillard) “sitting
coaster” located at Busch Gardens Tampa.
Operating with four trains (only three are on the track at any given
time) seating four across in eight rows for a total capacity of 32 riders,
Kumba has been one of the park’s premier attractions since it opened in 1993. It features seven inversions.

Fun Facts

Kumba was the first B&M coaster with interlocking
corkscrews and a dive loop. And it’s one
of only three in the world with a vertical loop encircling the lift hill.

Ride Experience

The ride begins with a right turn out of the loading
station. The train ascends a 143-foot
chain lift hill, navigates a pre-drop and drops 135 feet to the left. It then goes up into a 114-foot vertical loop
followed by a dive loop. The next
element is a zero-g roll which packs a punch.
This leads up into a cobra roll, the last element before the block
brake. After the block brake the train
navigates two interlocking corkscrews and flies through two tunnels before
returning to the loading station. Kumba means "roar" in South African congo language - and roar it does, with no sand or other dampener to mute the sound of the trains.

Final Thoughts and Rating

Kumba offers a ride which is both thrilling and
wonderfully smooth. The elements flow so
fluently that there is no need to brace oneself or ride defensively. It features a great layout which was copied
to at least one later, floorless B&M coaster. In addition, the ride duration is 2:54,
which is longer than that of a number of operating coasters. Although this coaster is 25 years old it rides
as well as the supposedly new and improved models. I really got a kick out of it and ended up
riding repeatedly. Kumba rates a 4 on a
scale of 1 to 5. For more information
about rides at Busch Gardens Tampa, visit buschgardens.com/tampa/https://

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Stinger is
a Vekoma inverted boomerang located at DorneyPark. It was originally located at California’s Great
Adventure, where it was known as Invertigo.
With 7 cars seating two across in two rows for a total capacity of 28
riders, it differs from other boomerangs I’ve ridden in that it features
face-off seats so that riders are riding in opposite directions.

The coaster
features the same elements as other Vekoma boomerangs – i.e., lift hill, cobra
roll, vertical loop and second lift hill.
Upon dispatch the train is pulled up a 131-foot lift hill, backwards or
forward depending upon which way you’re facing, drops 125 feet through the
station, enters a cobra roll, goes through a 72-foot vertical loop and reaches
the second lift hill, after which it drops and travels through the same
elements in reverse.

To say that
Stinger doesn’t have the best track record is an understatement. This coaster has experienced a lot of
downtime due to malfunctions and one year was closed for much of the season. When it’s operating normally, however, it
provides an enjoyable ride experience, superior to that on most boomerangs. The elements are fun and I especially like
the face-off seats. It’s refreshing to
be able to look riders sitting across from you straight in the eye and maybe
even exchange a few words with them on the way up the lift hill. Stinger gets 4 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at DorneyPark
visit https://www.dorneypark.com/https://www.dorneypark.com/

Saturday, October 14, 2017

A double launch family coaster added to
Dollywood’s lineup in 2014, FireChaser Express is beautifully themed and
constructed. The theme is a volunteer fire station in the SmokyMountains. Operating with three trains containing 7 cars
seating two across for a total capacity of 14 riders per train, the ride begins
with a siren going off. The train is
then launched, negotiating a couple of twisty turns, before reaching the lift
hill. After ascending the lift hill it
navigates a couple more turns, goes over a camelback, swings right into another
camelback and proceeds through more twisting turns, travelling through a
tower. Additional turns follow and the
train enters a make-believe storage warehouse containing fireworks. This is an enclosed area in which riders are
treated to flames and the menace of “Big Bertha,” a firecracker pointing at the
train and throwing out sparks. This
results in a spray of mist resembling smoke.
From the “Gasoline and Fireworks Emporium” the train is launched backwards
through more turns and another fire tower before returning to the station.

This is a really fun ride with some nice
elements although I must say that the fireworks storage area felt somewhat
claustrophobic. It also felt very hot
and I would imagine that on a hot day the heat would be intense enough to feel
suffocating. The launches are tire-propelled,
something of a rarity, as there are less than half a dozen at the time of
writing this that use that type of launch.
FireChaser Express gets 3 ½ out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at
Dollywood, visit www.dollywood.com/

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Themed after a 1950’s hot rod, Lightning
Rod is the world’s first launched wooden coaster and recent (as of 2016)
addition to RMC’s (Rocky Mountain Construction) impressive portfolio. A
terrain coaster, it’s built on a mountain and hidden from view except for the
lift hill, overbanked turn at the end of the ride and small section of track
leading into the turn. So for anyone
riding it for the first time, there’s an element of suspense in that you don’t
know what you’re letting yourself in for.

With six cars seating two across in two
rows for a total of 24 riders, the train makes a right turn out of the loading
station and approaches the lift hill, where it is launched. (The restraint consists of a lap bar and shin
guard, the same restraint system on other RMC creations.)

The launch is an
unusual one in that coasters are typically stationary when launched whereas
this one is already in motion. Also
unusual is that the launch becomes progressively faster instead of remaining at
the same speed. Upon reaching the top of
the lift the train takes a short, deceptive drop before rising and dropping a
breathtaking 165 feet at a 73-degree angle.
It then takes riders on a fast-paced course of steeply banked turns,
veering left (breaking wave turn)/ right/ left/ right/ left/ right. In the midst of this is the so-called “twist
and shout” element, which has riders breezing through a section of crazily
twisted track. The quick changes of
direction, interspersed with airtime hills, make it almost impossible to
anticipate what’s coming next. On one of
the turns riders are thrown somewhat forcefully to the left. The latter part of the ride features a double
up and quadruple down leading into a 180-degree overbanked right turn
(publicized as a “non-inverting half loop”), from which the train descends and
veers right before hitting the brake run.

The ride is short but absolutely amazing. What makes it amazing is the combination of
velocity, novelty and unpredictability.
There was so much being thrown at me that I found it difficult to
process. It offers good airtime with
some nice lateral G’s. From start to finish,
Lightning Rod is electrifying. 5 out of
5 stars. For more information about
rides at Dollywood, visit www.dollywood.com/

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Thi3teen is a roller coaster/dark ride with some innovative
elements. With five cars seating two
across in two rows for a total capacity of 20 riders, the train makes a turn
out of the loading station before ascending a 60-foot lift hill and navigating
a series of small twisty airtime hills.
It then ascends a second lift hill which leads to the “Crypt,” in which
riders are in for quite a surprise.
Shrouded in darkness, riders see flashing lights and other visual
effects. The train suddenly and
unexpectedly drops, not once but twice.
It then propels the riders backwards out of the crypt while traversing a
backwards helix before returning to the station.

While the size of the drops and speed of the ride are quite modest and
unremarkable, the entry to and exit from the crypt are indeed remarkable. When the train dropped in the crypt, my
reaction was yikes! The experience of
being propelled out of the crypt backwards was delightful and somewhat
awesome. While Thi3teen is not an
extreme thrill ride by any stretch of the imagination, it gets high marks for
it uniqueness. 4 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at AltonTowers,
visit https://www.altontowers.com Video courtesy of East Coaster General.

This
wooden family coaster at QuassyAmusement Park is
deceptive in that it delivers more thrills than its modest proportions would
suggest. Built by The Gravity Group (The
Voyage, Ravine Flyer II), it was the first coaster to feature Timberliner
trains. With six cars per train seating
two across for a total capacity of 12 riders, the train veers slightly right
and ascends a small lift hill before making a right turn and dropping 36 feet. It then ascends and drops several more times
before entering a tunnel that leads to the turnaround. Once out of the tunnel the train navigates a
succession of short drops before returning to the loading station.

OK, so
it’s not a blockbuster but it happens to be very good. The airtime is phenomenal! If you’re looking for a good roller coaster
ride, this is it. Wooden Warrior is a
shining example of why bigger is not necessarily better. I’m only sorry that the ride is so
short. Of note is that the restraint is
markedly different from anything I’d previously encountered. It’s a pivoting lap bar that extends outside
the train and swings back inward over the rider before locking in place. Wooden Warrior gets 4 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at QuassyAmusement
Park, visit www. Quassy.com/

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Wicked
Cyclone is Rocky Mountain Construction’s makeover of Riverside Cyclone at Six
Flags New England. What RMC did was to
transform a boring, moribund coaster into something exciting and vital. With two trains comprised of 6 cars seating
two across for a total of 24 riders, the ride begins with a right turn out of
the loading station and ascent of a 109-foot chain lift hill. The train then plummets at a 78-degree angle
and goes up into a 120-degree left overbanked turn. This leads into a bunny hop and 200-degree
zero-g stall. The remainder of the ride
consists of several more overbanked turns, a double down, two zero-g rolls and
the first ever double reversing bank airtime hill. These elements are interspersed with a
number of small airtime hills.

The
three inversions are awesome – pretty intense - and the small hills offer great ejector
airtime. From start to finish there is
not a dull moment. This coaster races
through the elements in such a way as to leave the riders breathless and
euphoric. And I really liked the restraints, consisting of only a lap bar and
shin guard, which resulted in a glorious feeling of freedom. Wicked Cyclone is
both novel and fabulous. 5 out of 5 stars. Video courtesy of Six Flags New
England. For more information about
rides at Six Flags New England, visit https://www.sixflags.com/newengland Video courtesy of Six Flags New England.

Thi3teen is a roller coaster/dark ride with some innovative
elements. With five cars seating two
across in two rows for a total capacity of 20 riders, the train makes a turn
out of the loading station before ascending a 60-foot lift hill and navigating
a series of small twisty airtime hills.
It then ascends a second lift hill which leads to the “Crypt,” in which
riders are in for quite a surprise.
Shrouded in darkness, riders see flashing lights and other visual
effects. The train suddenly and
unexpectedly drops, not once but twice. (These are the first freefalls of this
type to be included on any roller coaster.) It then
propels the riders backwards out of the crypt while traversing a backwards
helix before returning to the station.

While the size of the drops and speed of the ride are quite modest and
unremarkable, the entry to and exit from the crypt are indeed remarkable. When the train dropped in the crypt, my
reaction was yikes! The experience of
being propelled out of the crypt backwards was delightful and somewhat
awesome. While Thi3teen is not an
extreme thrill ride by any stretch of the imagination, it gets high marks for
it uniqueness. 4 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at AltonTowers,
visit https://www.altontowers.com Photos courtesy of Alton Towers.

Rita is an Intamin
accelerator coaster located in the DarkForest section of AltonTowers
theme park. With five cars per train
seating two across for a total of 20 riders, it features a hydraulic launch and
is themed as an abandoned drag racer.
Upon dispatch – after a recording saying “Hold on tight, you must
escape!” - it accelerates from 0 to 60
mph in 2.5 seconds. The train proceeds
to navigate a series of sharp turns – right, right, left, left, right, left –
and small airtime hills before hitting the brake run and returning to the
station.

Of note is the fact
that Rita’s track is red in some spots and green in others. This is because the green sections of track
blend in with the trees. (Zoning
regulations at AltonTowers, which is heavily
wooded, prohibit the erection of attractions visible above the tree line.) I found this to be a really fun ride,
especially the launch, but nothing exceptional. 3 out of 5 stars. . For
more information about rides at AltonTowers, visit https://www.altontowers.com

Nemesis at AltonTowers
is an inverted coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. It consists of two trains with eight cars
seating four across, for a total of 32 riders.
Upon dispatch the train veers slightly right out of the station before
ascending the chain lift hill and plunging 104 feet to the left into a
corkscrew. It then enters a downward
helix and goes up into a zero-g roll.
This is followed by a vertical loop and corkscrew. It traverses what might best be described as
a horseshoe configuration before entering the vertical loop. After the final corkscrew the train speeds
through an underground tunnel before returning to the station.

While limited as to
the number of elements, Nemesis offers a very intense ride. The inversions flow nicely and don’t give the
riders much of an opportunity to catch their breath. And although rough in spots, Nemesis is
enjoyable enough to merit repeat rides.
4 out of 5 stars. For more
information about rides at AltonTowers, visit https://www.altontowers.com

As of 2017, The
Smiler at AltonTowers
holds the world record for most inversions on a roller coaster. A Gerstlauer Infinity coaster, it features
four trains with four cars seating four across for a total of 16 riders. The restraint is an over the shoulder
harness. The queue leading up to the
loading station is ominously dark although the loading station itself is
brightly lit.

Upon dispatch the
train takes a 180-degree left turn and propels the riders through a heartline
roll in the dark before emerging from the station and ascending the first of
two chain lift hills. From the top the train veers to the right and downward,
entering a corkscrew followed by three consecutive dive loops. It then ascends into a sidewinder and
traverses a corkscrew, coming to a stop at the second lift hill.

There is a about
a 10-second pause at the bottom of the second lift hill, an opportunity for
riders to catch their breath. The lift
hill is a vertical one and after reaching the top of the hill the ride really
kicks into high gear, going through a corkscrew, sea serpent inversion, cobra
roll and two corkscrews before returning to the station.

The inversions
themselves are nothing unusual but the sheer number of them is rather amazing
and results in a pretty awesome ride experience. Prior to riding The Smiler, the maximum
number of inversions I had experienced on a coaster was 7. I did wonder whether
14 inversions might be a bit much, but it works and is easily doable. Of all the roller coaster inversions I’ve
experienced, a heartline roll is undoubtedly the most intense. For The Smiler to feature a heartline roll
prior to reaching the lift hill made for a great start. (I’d ridden only one other coaster with a heartline
roll before the lift hill, Hydra at DorneyPark.) The vertical lift hill is a great way to
start the second half of the ride and the inversions that followed were pretty
intense, particularly the combination of cobra roll and sea serpent. While rough in spots, The Smiler proved to be
enjoyable enough to merit repeat rides.
And it should be noted that Smiler has a single rider queue, which
enabled me to get on in less than 10 minutes.
4 out of 5 stars. For more
information about rides at AltonTowers, visit https://www.altontowers.com/

Oblivion at AltonTowers
has the distinction of being the first dive coaster ever built. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (as
is the case with all existing dive coasters), it stands 65 feet tall at ground
level. The train consists of two rows
seating 8 across for a total of 16 riders.
Prior to dispatch, the riders see a video designed to scarify. The train ascends a 65-foot chain lift hill
and upon reaching the drop, hangs over the drop for about five seconds before
plunging 180 feet at a an 89-degree angle into an underground tunnel. From there it rises up into a right
overbanked turn before returning to the station.

The ride is short
but sweet. The drop is awesome although
I would have welcomed a second drop with hang time such as can be enjoyed on
later B&M dive machines. However, considering
that Oblivion was innovative and the first of its kind, I can’t complain. Also, it features a single rider queue, which
enabled me to get on quickly. 4 out of 5
stars. For more information about rides
at AltonTowers,
visit https://www.altontowers.com/

The space-themed Galactica,
formerly known as Air, enjoys the distinction of being the first flying coaster
to be manufactured by B&M (Bolliger & Mabillard). It operates with 3 trains containing 7 cars
seating 4 across for a total capacity of 28 riders. There are 2 ride queues so that riders can
board from either side of the loading platform.
Once the riders are harnessed in (with over the shoulder restraints and
restraints to hold the ankles in place) the train is pronated so that riders
are positioned face down. Upon dispatch
the train makes a right turn and ascends a chain lift hill before dropping to
the right, racing ahead and flipping the riders over onto their backs. This is followed by an upward turn – after
which riders are once again in a face down position – flight under a bridge and
360-degree in-line twist.

Air was renamed
Galactica after VR (virtual reality) headsets were added to the ride. This would have been interesting to
experience but the VR gear was not operating during my visit to AltonTowers
so I rode Galactica without any enhancements – not that it needs any. The fly-to-lie and lie-to-fly transitions
were seamless, very smooth, and overall the ride was delightful. 4 out of 5 stars. . For more information about rides at AltonTowers,
visit https://www.altontowers.com

A giant inverted
boomerang, Goliath is an imposing sight with its twin towers that stand 191.6
feet tall. The ride begins with the
train being pulled up a vertical lift hill, almost to the top of the first
tower, before plummeting 177 feet through the loading station and ascending
into a 110-foot cobra roll. This is
followed by a 102-foot vertical loop and ascent up the second tower. As is the case with other Vekoma boomerangs,
the train then repeats the ride in reverse, once again ascending the first
tower before dropping into the station.

Boomerangs
are notorious for giving riders the sensation of being about to pitch forward
into nothingness during the initial ascent, and the fact that this one features
a vertical lift makes it more forceful than most. I found the vertical lift unnerving and held
onto the restraints for dear life. This
was pretty intense stuff. Otherwise the
ride was unremarkable, a case of been there done that. Goliath gets 3 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at Six Flags
New England, visit https://www.sixflags.com/newengland

Thursday, November 3, 2016

This Vekoma boomerang has been operating since
1991. With 7 cars seating 2 across in 2
rows for a total capacity of 28 riders, the train is pulled up a 116-foot catch
car lift hill before being released and propelled through the loading station
and up into a cobra roll followed up a vertical loop. It then ascends a second lift hill and goes
through the course in reverse.

As all Vekoma boomerangs feature the same three
inversions, I can’t say that this one is in any way novel or remarkable. What I can say is that whereas I would have
expected a coaster of this vintage to be rough, the ride was much smoother than
anticipated. Also the soft restraints
were welcome although a bit heavy. And at 5.2 the maximum G-force is pretty
good. Sidewinder offers an enjoyable
enough ride. 2 ½ out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at
Hersheypark, visit www.hersheypark.com

Thursday, October 27, 2016

This LSM coaster from Premier Rides necessarily has a
one-train operation, as the train is launched backwards and forward from the
station. With a total capacity of 18
riders (3 cars seating 2 across in 3 rows), the train is launched forward at
the beginning of the ride and rises just short of the twist at the top. It then launches backwards onto a curved track with a stall at the top before
again launching forward and navigating the twist at the top.
This is followed by an inline twist.
The train banks right and goes through a non-inverting loop before once
again racing forward through the loading area and rolling backwards. It reaches a maximum speed of 62 mph.

I must admit that I didn’t have high expectations of
this ride but it certainly exceeded my expectations. The launch was a blast and the layout of the
track resulted in some interesting surprises.
The reversals of direction were somewhat disconcerting in a good way;
the inline twist was fabulous.
Tempesto is a welcome addition to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The ride is short but sweet. 4 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at BGW,
visit https://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/ Video courtesy of BuschGardens.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

This coaster from Arrow Dynamics is the only operating
coaster to feature two interlocking vertical loops. It has a long train although I didn’t count
the number of rows and the stats are not available on rcdb. The restraint consists of an overhead
harness. Upon departing the loading
station, the train ascends a 130-foot lift hill, with the chain clanking away,
before turning right and dropping 114 feet to BuschGarden’s RhineRiver,
then rising up into the first of the loops.
It then races into a downward spiraling tunnel, from which it travels up
a second lift hill before again turning right and entering the second loop. The ride comes to an end shortly after the
second loop.

Considering the fact that this ride dates back to 1978,
it has stood the test of time very well.
I was expecting a headbanger but this is not the case. It’s remarkably
smooth and the initial drop is sizeable for the time at which this coaster was
built. Among the highlights of the ride
is the tunnel, longer than I had anticipated and a very enjoyable element. The Loch Ness Monster is a lot of fun. 4 out of 5 stars. From more information about rides at Busch
Gardens Williamsburg, visit https://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/

Friday, October 14, 2016

This wooden coaster from William Cobb & Associates
dates back to 1980 and features an out and back layout. Seating two across in three rows with four
cars for a total capacity of 24 riders, the train makes a right turn from the
loading station and ascends a 71-foot lift hill. Once at the top it drops 65 feet and
continues its course over several more consecutive drops. This is followed by a right turn, after which
the train traverses a series of dips on its way back to the station. The maximum speed is 53 mph.

The ride is surprisingly smooth for a wooden coaster 36
years old at the time of my writing this.
There was none of the roughness
that I had anticipated. While hardly a
high thrill ride, Judge Roy Scream is an enjoyable and fun ride. 3 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at Six Flags
Over Texas, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas.

Carolina Cobra is a Vekoma boomerang that features the
same elements as every other Vekoma boomerang I’ve ridden: cobra roll and
vertical loop. This one, however, has an
interesting history, in that it was moved from GeaugaLake
(where it was called Mind Eraser) purchased by Cedar Fair and moved to
Carowinds. Seating 2 across in 7 rows
with 7 cars for a total capacity of 28 riders, the train is pulled backwards up
a 125-foot lift hill before dropping 120 feet through the loading station and ascending
into a cobra roll, followed by a 360-degree vertical loop. It then goes up another 125-foot lift hill
and repeats the elements in reverse.

As boomerangs go, this one is pretty good. I’ve been on some that were real headbangers
and that is not the case here. The ride
was comfortable and enjoyable. Also, at
5.2, the G-force is very good. 3 out of
5 stars. For more information about
rides at Carowinds, visit www.carowinds.com.

The last mine train to be built by Arrow Dynamics at a
Six Flags park, Roadrunner Express is an intermediate coaster with appeal to a
wide demographic. It’s situated next to
Iron Rattler and in fact passes under Iron Rattler; this undoubtedly adds to
its appeal. Featuring two trains with
six cars seating two across in three rows for a total capacity of 36 riders, it
goes directly from the loading station up a 73-foot lift hill before dropping 45
feet, veering to the right twice and to the left twice. It then ascends a second, 38-foot lift hill
before dropping again and swerving right, right, left and left. The turns are sharp enough to add an edge to
the ride and it feels as if the rider is entering a small helix.

While the height and other stats are hardly impressive,
Roadrunner Express does manage to pack a punch.
Hardly an extreme thrill ride, it’s nevertheless quite enjoyable. I rode this coaster a couple of times between
rides on Iron Rattler and got a kick out of it.
3 out of 5 stars. For more
information about rides at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, visit www. sixflags.com/fiestatexas

This hypercoaster from
Giovanola is the tallest and fastest coaster at Six Flags Over Texas. It boasts a height of 245 feet and top speed
of 85 mph. The restraint consists of a
lap bar and seat belt. Seating two across with five cars in rows of three for a
total capacity of 30 riders, the train makes a U-turn from the loading station
before ascending a 245-foot chain lift hill.
It then drops a whopping 255 feet at a 65-degree angle into a tunnel
before rising into a turnaround which resembles a shortened version of the
hammerhead turns for which B&M coasters are famous. From that point it goes into a camelback
followed by a 540-degree helix. This
comes just before the mid-course brake run, after which riders negotiate an
overbanked left turn and enter a second helix.
More overbanked turns follow as the train runs its course through a
layout somewhat atypical in that it’s a combination out and back/twister. There’s a lot of lateral motion before the
train hits the final brake run.

I expected to like this
coaster a lot more than I did. (I didn’t dislike it; it just failed to wow me.)
The first drop was pretty astonishing and the ride has some nice elements but
there were a few things that I felt detracted from the overall ride
experience. First of all, the location
of the mid-course brake run struck me as odd, as it isn’t on a straight section
of track but rather on the approach to an overbanked turn. Secondly, the two helices struck me as
overkill. Thirdly and finally, the
sensation of going around in circles was somewhat dizzying. However, I suspect that most riders will
enjoy this ride more than I did. Titan
offers a comparatively long ride replete with thrills and intensity. 4 out of 5
stars. For more information about rides
at Six Flags Over Texas, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas.

A launched LIM shuttle
coaster from Premier Rides, Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast is aptly named. Seating two across with five cars for a
total capacity of 20 riders, the train is shuffled sideways from the loading
platform to the point of dispatch before the ride begins. The riders, restrained by only a lap bar
with a short seat belt that hooks onto the side, are launched out of the
station backward, through a tunnel, at 70 mph. Catapulted through an inverted
top hat, riders go through an overbanked turn before being sent backward up a
218-foot vertical spike. (The train does
not go all the way to the top of the spike but does take riders to a considerable
height.) After being held briefly on the
spike at a 90-degree angle, riders plummet down and finish the course facing
forward. Although there is only one inversion, riders
go through it twice.

The ride is nicely themed
to resemble an abandoned snow cone factory.
As to the ride experience, being launched through the tunnel backward
was indeed a blast. The reversals of
direction made it difficult to keep track of which end was up and this served
to enhance the ride experience. The
scariest part was being suspended on the steep vertical spike. Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast is a very short ride
but an unusual and fun one. 4 out of 5
stars. For more information about rides
at Six Flags Over Texas, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas.

Opened in 1978, this
double-looping coaster from Schwartzkopf remains one of the premier attractions
at Six Flags Over Texas. It travels at a
maximum speed of 60 mph and features some nice elements. Seating two across in two rows with 7 cars
for a total capacity of 28 riders, the train goes straight from the loading
station up a 116-foot chain lift hill.
Once at the top, it makes a U-turn and traverses a small incline while
approaching the first drop. It then
drops 105 feet at a 46-degree angle.
This is followed by two consecutive vertical loops, small hill and mid-course
brake run. From that point it makes a
right turn, drops and veers left before dropping again. The ride finishes with an additional hill
leading into a helix.

This coaster has stood the test of time well. It’s not at all rough and with a maximum
G-force of 5.9, it’s a force to be reckoned with. Although I wouldn’t rate it extremely high on
the thrill scale, it does offer a lively ride with some very nice pops of
airtime. Shock Wave is easily
re- rideable and a lot of fun. 3 ½ out of
5 stars. For more information about rides at Six Flags Over Texas, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas

What do you get when you
take a lumbering wooden coaster, replace the track with steel and make numerous
other modifications? In this case you
get the New Texas Giant, a Rocky Mountain Construction makeover featuring that
company’s famed I-Box track. You also get
a ride that’s as smooth as it is exhilarating.

With six cars seating two
across for a total capacity of 24 riders, the train makes a right turn out of
the loading station and ascends a 153-foot chain lift hill before dropping 147
feet at a wicked 79-degree angle. This
is followed by a double up into a 90-degree overbanked turn, drop and ascent
into another overbanked turn, then guess what? - drop with ascension into a 115-degree
overbanked turn. This leads into a small hill before the
mid-course brake run. From that point
the train drops sharply to the left, traverses a series of hills, speeds around
turns and races through three tunnels – all of this at a maximum speed of 65
mph which feels faster - before hitting the final brake run.

From start to finish the
ride is absolutely amazing. The
restraints – which consist of a lap bar and seat belt – are supremely
comfortable although there’s nothing to hold onto, baby! As if the initial drop weren’t awesome
enough, the overbanked turns make for a thrilling ride. The ride features numerous airtime hills and
the airtime is glorious! One memorable
moment occurred while going into a left turn during the latter part of the
ride. I found myself fairly bouncing out
of my seat. The tunnels near the end of
the ride are a blast, with small dips affording more airtime. The New Texas Giant gives about as good a
ride as I’ve had on any coaster. 5 out
of 5 stars. For more information about
rides at Six Flags Over Texas, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas.

Considering the fabulous job that Rocky Mountain Construction
did with New Texas Giant – see my review - I was eager to experience Iron
Rattler. Featuring RMC’s signature I-Box
track and outstanding topography (it was built over a limestone quarry), this
coaster is a marvel of engineering. It
operates with two Gerstlauer trains of six cars seating two across in two rows
for a total capacity of 24 riders. The restraint consists of a lap bar (with
almost nothing to hold onto) and seat belt.
Upon dispatch, the train makes a right turn out of the loading station
and picks up speed, almost as a tease, before slowing down and ascending the
179-foot chain lift hill. For those
riding in the front, it seems to stop
dead in its tracks at the crest of the hill, hanging over the drop; for those
riding in the back, it likewise comes to a near standstill - and on one of my
rides it almost felt as if the train was going to roll backwards. After several seconds of suspense, the train
plummets 171 feet slightly to the left at an 81-degree angle. What a drop!

From the initial drop the train ascends and takes the
riders through a rollicking, wild ride as it navigates a 110-degree overbanked
turn to the right followed by a 95-degree overbanked turn. It veers slightly left and goes into a barrel
roll. This is followed by a 98-degree
overbanked turn and 93-degree overbanked turn.
During the latter part of the course the train swerves to the right and
zooms into a tunnel before hitting the brake run and returning to the station.

The terrain is spectacular and the elements are wonderful. Highlights would undoubtedly be the steep
drop, barrel roll and tunnel. Riding
this coaster at night proved to be a pretty amazing experience, as the track is
not illuminated and the tunnel was pitch black.
(Although at one point the tunnel featured special effects, this was not
the case when I rode; because of the total darkness, going through the tunnel
was both eerie and electrifying.) Iron
Rattler is an extreme thrill ride which is also nicely themed, with a
rattlesnake head at the front of the trains and a sign saying “World’s Longest
Rattlesnake” in the winding queue leading to the loading station (Indeed, it
features 3,266 feet of track.) Totally
awesome! 5 out of 5 stars. For more information about rides at Six Flags
Fiesta Texas,
visit www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas

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About Me

I'm a tennis player, baseball fan, cat fancier, film aficionado, former Scrabble champion and diehard roller coaster enthusiast. Thus far I have ridden only a limited number of coasters due to the expense of traveling - and because I only recently took up this hobby after a long absence from coasters. I'm hoping to ride many more! Contact me at rollercoastergirl02@gmail.com